Nigerian jollof rice recipe! This African dish is packed full of flavor, rich, grainy, smoky, delicious, and the best. It's a one-pot dish that is made with rice, tomato, peppers, herbs, and spices. Learn how to make jollof rice in easy steps.
6cupsRiceEasy cook long grain rice or Golden sella basmati
3largeRed Bell peppers
1-3Scotch bonnets
1400g tinPlum tomatoes
1mediumBrown onion
200gTomato puree
6(30g)Stock cubesMaggi star, or Knorr
1mediumRed Onionsliced,halved
2tablespoonsCurry powder
2tablespoonsDried thyme
3-4Bay leaves
1.5cupsVegetable oil
Saltto taste
6cupsChicken broth
6cupsWater
1TomatoSliced
2tablespoonsButter
Instructions
First, Blend the bell peppers, plum tomatoes, scotch bonnet, and brown onion.
Place a pot on heat, add oil into the pot, then add in half of the sliced red onions. Sautee the onions till they are fragrant and translucent. This should take about 2 minutes.
Next, add in the tomato puree/tomato paste. Fry for 5-10 minutes till reduced in quantity and doesn't taste tart.Add in the blended peppers, curry powder, dried thyme, stock cubes, bay leaves, and salt. Fry till it is dark red and no longer raw. It will be reduced in quantity, thick and the oil floats to the top of the sauce. This takes about 10 - 15 minutes.
Then add in the chicken broth, and boiling water. Stir, add in the washed rice. Cover the pot tightly and cook the rice on low heat till it's almost tender. (About 25 minutes).
Add the remaining sliced red onion, salad tomato, and butter.Cover the pot and continue to steam the rice till it's tender.
Stir the rice and take it off the heat.Serve and enjoy!
Notes
You can roast the peppers before blending to give it smoky flavor.
It's best to use a thick based aluminum pot to cook the rice.
Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid to trap in the steam.
You can use foil paper to cover the pot before covering it with the lid if the lid is not tight fitting.
Cook rice on low heat
Don't use too much water to cook it as it mostly needs steam to cook.
Fry the tomato puree to prevent tart or sour taste.
Use Nigerian curry powder that is homemade or storebought ones like lions curry, or ducros curry powder.
Fry the pepper till it's
Use more chicken broth than water or an equal ratio.